Patricia is a tenacious tech entrepreneur with over 15 years of executive experience. Prior to joining Data Science Alliance, she was the CEO and co-founder of NotesFirst, a cloud-based platform that helps doctors capture and improve the quality of health data in emerging markets of the world. She was selected as a Fellow and Speaker at the 2018 Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit held by the United Nations in New York City, and was featured in Forbes’ “60 Women-Led Startups That Are Shaking Up Tech Across The Globe”. At the age of 21, Patricia started her first company, LFC Solutions.Net – the first online accounting platform in the Philippines. With her boundless energy and passion for Responsible Data Science, she is determined to help DSA grow.
When Gina says she’s managed a circus, it isn’t a metaphor. She was the resident stage manager for the San Diego based Lindley Lopez Circus for half a decade. Gina’s career is grounded in creating systems that facilitate the success of the leaders around her, and in anticipating and executing the needs of the organizations she serves. After her circus days, she served as the program manager for Canopy San Diego, a business accelerator for the legal cannabis market in Southern California. Gina currently serves as the main point of contact for the Properties division of Keshif LLC. She also assists in the Startup Investment and Philanthropic divisions of Keshif, helping run the new show in town – DSA.
Data scientist, startup pioneer, and DSA founder Taner Halıcıoğlu has always been fluent in the practical and the visionary. To solve intractable problems, he embraces both. Taner practiced the art of data science before it had a name - leveraging data in concert with his skills as a software developer and systems engineer, helping tech giants Cisco, LoudCloud and eBay scale their capacity to match their goals. He continued to turn founders’ visions into realities when he joined Facebook as its first full time employee. As a software and operations engineer, Taner architected key hardware and software infrastructure that enabled the social network’s explosive growth, laying the groundwork for its now more than 2.5 billion users worldwide. After leaving Facebook in 2009, he was recruited to launch Starcraft 2 successfully for Blizzard - a dream job for a longtime gamer and worldbuilder. In 2017 he established the Halicioglu Data Science Institute at his alma mater UCSD, to expand the practice of data science to solve problems worldwide.
Dr. Ilkay Altintas earned the moniker “Lady of Fire” for her groundbreaking work using real time data to predict and contain wildfires. However, as Chief Data Science Officer of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, it’s hardly the first thing she’s set ablaze. At UCSD, Ilkay is Chief Data Science Officer of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and Founder and Director of the Workflows for Data Science (WoRDs) Center. Ilkay’s research has performed drug testing simulations to isolate genes to fight cancer, created tools being used to build the world’s first commercial scale fusion reactor, and designed modular workflows to analyze the human biome. She is a scientist’s scientist—her innovation accelerating the process of discovery for others. Ilkay is also an educator, teaching the next generation of big data experts as a Fellow at the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute and breaking sign-up records with her Big Data Specialization MOOC course for learners worldwide. She faces her toughest students, however, when she testifies before Members of Congress, providing instruction on the impact and value of national investment in science.
Before Dr. Bradley Voytek was a respected UCSD Professor and neuroscientist, he was a renegade data scientist revolutionizing transportation at Uber. Brought in to bring direction to the chaos at the nascent startup, he helped Uber use data to change how we move through cities worldwide. Following his exit, Brad dusted off his PhD in Neuroscience from UC Berkeley determined to bring a data scientist’s acumen to traditional research. By aggregating and examining the data of fellow neuroscientists, his award winning research has isolated neural activity critical to understanding cognition and disease. An evangelist for the power of data science to create cross disciplinary advances, Brad serves as both a start-up investor and advisor. Cognizant of the need to build a pipeline of talent in the field, he also teaches the next generation of data scientists as a founding faculty member at the Halıcıoglu Data Science Institute and the Neurosciences Graduate Program at UC San Diego. Brad also moonlights as a consultant to the United States National Academy of Sciences Science & Entertainment Exchange - aiding and abetting the talents of writers and filmmakers in their portrayals of science.
Not many people who understand cognitive neuroscience become attorneys, and not many attorneys become founders. Nedim Halicioğlu has defied the odds. Comfortable wearing both the hats of investor and entrepreneur, Ned has founded several startups, and evaluated the prospects of hundreds more with the head of a researcher and the heart of a founder. Ned has an eye for finding and elevating talent, and brings an attorney’s acuity to the companies he shepherds. Having conducted research and practiced medical litigation, he applies his understanding of each to evaluating early stage companies. Ned currently handles investment strategies for Keshif Ventures, LLC and serves on the board of NotesFirst, Inc, a state-of-the-art medical record app bringing access to underserved communities and emerging markets around the world. Continuing to confound norms as a composer, Ned’s genre is digital music - when in life he is more of a metalhead.
Alex Bates was drawn into the world of technology because it was rebellious. From hacking schematics from the early Internet as an 80's kid, to publishing a computational solution to diagnose early stage glaucoma as an undergraduate, Alex has combined data and industriousness to innovate. After applying analytics on some of the world’s largest data warehouses at Teradata, Alex was co-founder and CTO of Mtell, acquired by AspenTech in 2016.
Sylvia, currently a PhD candidate in the department of Cognitive Science at UC San Diego, is researching the cognitive neuroscience of human visual perception. Born and raised in Henan, China, she moved to the United States 10 years ago to pursue bachelor's degrees in both Neuroscience and Cognitive Science at UC Davis, graduating with honors. In addition to her academic pursuits, Sylvia is interested in exploring the potential of new technologies and the cognitive impacts of technology and data science on society. As she builds her career in the field of data science, Sylvia aims to make a positive impact by helping others solve complex problems.
We value the unique perspectives and ideas that arise from a diverse and inclusive community.
We strive for honesty and transparency in our projects and operations.
We are dedicated to nurturing a community that is engaged with our mission. We seek to develop as individuals and as a team, inspired to learn, innovate, and collaborate.
We work to stay ahead of the curve as Responsible Data Science knowledge and practices are ever-evolving.
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Be a part of the RDS movement. Help us foster awareness and grow our impact. Let us know how you’d like to apply your background and expertise to our projects!
We’re looking for ambassadors of Responsible Data Science (RDS)—people passionate about promoting RDS and supporting mission-driven organizations through ethical data projects. As a DSA intern, you’ll have the opportunity to gain real-world experience at a tech nonprofit and network with industry experts. You don’t have to be a data scientist though—we are also looking for graphic designers and creative storytellers who can help bring our projects and online content to life!
DSA interns are required to work a minimum of 15-20 hours/week and must be able to work in-person at our San Diego office once a week. Our internships follow the quarterly academic calendar.
At DSA, we're committed to growing and empowering an inclusive community within our organization and industry. We cultivate diverse teams of the best and brightest from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. DSA encourages everyone—including women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and those in the LGBTQIA+ community—to apply.
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